Practical Magic 2: A Love Letter to the Cult Classic Sequel

Here’s the thing about sequels: they often struggle to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of their predecessors. When Practical Magic 2 debuted on Rotten Tomatoes this week with a measly 34 percent approval rating, it was hardly a surprise. Directed by Susanne Bier and starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, the film arrives 28 years after the original, reprising their roles as the sister witches Sally and Gillian Owens. For some critics, the film is a misstep, but for the devoted fanbase, it is a long-awaited return to a beloved world.

The narrative follows the sisters as they confront a centuries-old family curse that claims the lives of the men they love. The stakes are raised when Sally’s daughters, Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams), discover their own magical heritage. When Kylie’s boyfriend, played by Xolo Maridueña, falls into a coma after a car accident, the family embarks on a journey to London to break the curse once and for all, enlisting the help of a magic historian played by Lee Pace.

A Polarizing Reception

Reviewers have been vocal about their grievances: the film’s lighting lacks the moody, autumnal warmth of the 1998 original, and the reliance on CGI has been criticized for stripping away the grounded, tactile magic that defined the first installment. Furthermore, the decision to move much of the action to London has left many fans questioning the absence of the iconic New England home that served as the heart of the first film. With a 130-minute runtime, some feel the sequel overstays its welcome.

However, it is worth remembering that the original Practical Magic, directed by Griffin Dunne, was also panned upon its release. Critics at the time struggled with its tonal shifts between romantic comedy, horror, and drama. As Dunne noted in 2024, those shifts were intentional—a reflection of the light and dark that coexist in everyday life.

For the Fans, Not the Critics

The original film became a cult classic for its comfort, its aesthetic, and its celebration of sisterhood. It was a film defined by chunky knit cardigans, midnight margaritas, and the unforgettable performances of Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. Practical Magic 2 is clearly designed for the fans who have kept that spirit alive for nearly three decades.

While the recasting of the daughters and the narrative choices may frustrate some, the film succeeds as a love letter to its audience. It is a movie for the geeks who host their own midnight margarita parties and for those who have waited years to see the Owens sisters reunite. As we watch Sally and Gillian take down the old curse, it becomes clear that this film was never meant to be Citizen Kane—it was meant to be a homecoming. And in that, it succeeds beautifully.